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W9W> BCCHANqs, 



GOING SOUTH 



FOB 



THE WINTER 



WITH 



HINTS FOR CONSUMPTIVES. 



ROBERT F. SPEIR, M. D. 

if 



NEW YORK : 

ifze^izsttieid foe the author 
By Edward 0. Jenkins, 20 North William Street. 

1870. 
V- - 






51274 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, hy 

Bobert F. Speir, M. D., 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
Eastern District of New York. 




CONTENTS. 

Preface, - - - - - - . - -5 

Pulmonary Consumption, - 9 

Who Suffer Most, 10 

Primary Cause of Pulmonary Phthisis, - - 12 

Atmospheric Vicissitudes, - - - - 17 

Climatic Influences, ----- 25 

Going Off, 33 

How to Go, --,---- 34. 

Savannah, Georgia, - - - - - "35 

The Other Route, - - - - - 37 

Charleston, - - - - - - "38 

Jacksonville, - -.- - - - - 41 

Mandarin, .__---- 4.5 

Magnolia, >,.--' - - 45 

Hibernia, - - - - - - - -46 

Green Cove Spring, ..... 47 

Pilatka, - - <Jl 



Contents. 



St. Augustine, Florida, 

Enterprise, 

Lake Harney, 

Aiken, South Carolina, 

South of France, 

Diet, 

Exercise 

Stimulants, 

Sea-Bathing, 

Conclusion, 



53 
64 

69 

7° 
80 

83 

9 1 
98 

101 

1-03 



PEEFACE. 

Very few physicians have had the time or 
opportunity to inform themselves of the advan- 
tages of climatic influences in the treatment of 
phthisis pulmonalis by personal observation 
in the South. And notwithstanding the fact 
that the physician has the interest of his pa- 
tient ever so much at heart, and does his duty 
conscientiously, never having seen the coun- 
try, it is difficult to designate any particular 
locality "down South" as the best suited for 
his consumptive patient. 

From the general confusion and diversity of 
opinion existing in the minds of so many per- 
sons with defective breathing apparatus, who 
so anxiously seek advice about wintering in the 
South, and partly by persuasion, and for the 
i 



6 Preface, 

information of those who cannot spare the time 
to investigate for themselves, I have after a late 
extended experimental tour, and careful obser- 
vation while wintering in the South, with a 
view to ascertain the medicinal qualities, hu- 
midity, density and dryness of the air, pre- 
pared this little hand-book as my contribution 
to the general fund of information most to be 
desired, and so little known by the thousands 
of consumptives who are ignorant of every- 
thing but the terrible truth that they must do 
something. 

In this little treatise the writer would desire 
not to be misunderstood as offering any direct 
advice to his readers, but only in as few words 
as possible, simply present a condition of things 
which he does not remember ever to have seen 
presented for the consideration of those north- 
ern consumptives who are " going South for 
the winter." 

The writer would hope to present the facts 



Preface. 7 

only (having no interest in hotels, or orange- 
groves and land speculations), so that his read- 
ers can judge of their destination understand- 
ingly for themselves. 

A small part of these " notes " from the wri- 
ter, first appeared in the Medical and Surgical 

Reporter. 

ROBERT F. SPEIR, M. D. 

Montague Place, 
Brooklyn Heights, N. Y., 1870. 



oinjj louih for the llinter. 



PULMONARY CONSUMPTION. 

Pulmonary consumption is a disease com- 
mon to the whole human race, and apparently 
to animals as well. This dreaded disease may 
prevail in the high lands, where the air is dry ; 
and in the low lands, where the air is moist. 
It is not contagious, and cannot be transferred 
from man to man. The disease is known to 
lie latent for a long period, while there are 
no declared symptoms of its existence till it 
breaks out with a suddenness that is startling. 

The mortality from pulmonary consumption 
is frightful, and it is not surprising that the 
disease should be thus mortal, when the treat- 
ment pursued is everything but what it should 
be. But the fact is now fully recognized, and 



10 Going South for the Winter. 

there is no longer a doubt or want of proof 
that the progress of the disease may be per- 
manently arrested, and life once more made 
bearable by the happy results of good treat- 
ment ; but, because there are not a few cases of 
pulmomary consumption where the tubercles 
heal up, leaving a cicatrix, just as an external 
wound, it must not, however, be supposed the 
disease will yield without the most persistent 
effort to keep it under control. Neither should 
the consumptive invalid be too hopeful, for at 
any time a little imprudence, exposure or over- 
exertion, may renew the trouble, defy all treat- 
ment, and rapidly prove fatal. 



WHO SUFFER MOST. 

Visit where you may the winter resorts of 
consumptive invalids, and you will have ample 
evidence to establish the proof that, it is our 
young men and women, the life and hope of 
the country, who suffer most severely from 
attacks of this terrible disease. If this dis- 
tressing statement so often reiterated, be true 



Going South for the Winter. 



ii 



is it not a matter of such consequence as to 
demand particular attention ? Yet we come 
in contact daily with persons presenting every 
symptom of serious lung disease, who will not 
even . make an effort, or attempt to avert the 
danger of phthisis. And strange as it may 
seem, there are people who will not take as 
a warning the sad picture of the once bloom- 
ing girl, lately so happy and joyous, now fad- 
ing from an attack of consumption ; threaten- 
ing to drag her— perhaps the only hope and 
pride of her unhappy parents, and the joy of 
her friends and admirers — to an early grave. 

We daily meet with people who are so blind 
as not to see in the flushed cheek, emaciation 
and teasing cough of their young friend, the 
life of all his associates, a cause for fearful ap- 
prehensions. And it is often useless to advise 
such deluded people, for so flattering and in- 
sidious is the character of pulmonary disease, 
that your anxious warnings may be received 
without attention. 

Of the thousands of consumptives " going 
South " for the winter, many have only reached 



12 Going South for the Winter, 

maturity, to find instead of the strength and 
vitality natural to manhood, only sufficient 
cause to repent a broken-down constitution, 
a burden to themselves and their friends. 



PRIMARY CAUSE OF PULMONARY PHTHISIS. 

Of all the transparent acts of folly a parent 
can be guilty of, there is none so inexcusable 
as that self-delusion and willful pride which 
induces the parent or guardian to put upon a 
child the most unreasonable and trying men- 
tal exercises, while perfectly regardless of the 
physical development. 

Can any or all of the so-called accomplish- 
ments and empty honors, compensate for the 
shattered nervous system, dyspepsia, ruined 
eye -sight and destructive development of 
brain, at the risk of making the child prema- 
turely old and physically ruined. 

Witness those darlings who astonish us by 
their early performances. Did it ever occur 
to you that the bright little girl, with her 
palid cheek, and those ^lustrous large eyes, 



Going South for the Winter. J 3 

who is complimented by foolish friends to 
please the vanity of the parent, is sure to be- 
come another sacrifice. The little six-year-old 
is admired and caressed for his astonishing 
precocity, encouraged and flattered while the 
little fellow works away, growing paler and 
thinner, and finally the bright and beautiful 
boy has a cough, and is soon laid in his silent 
grave, beside hundreds of little victims of pa- 
rental ambition. It must be clear to every 
mind that many of those little curly-headed 
prattlers, whose innocent voices are hushed in 
their untimely graves, might have been saved. 
It surely is not prudent or wise to overtax the 
powers of the young child, or generous to 
push him beyond his years. Why not let him 
live in the enjoyment of a life nature marked 
out for him. 

It is enough to drive one mad to see the lit- 
tle creatures returning home from school with 
an armful of books and pages to ponder over, 
which would puzzle a strong man to wade 
through. 

We hear of school commissions and the pro- 

2 



l 4 Going South for the Winter. 

motion of teachers who secure their elevation 
by the prompt manner in which the children 
of their department are " put through" with 
their studies, while the children are really so 
confined at school that every mouthful of air 
respired is loaded with the poison from the 
lungs of another. Is it any wonder that these 
children — those who live to reach maturity — 
discover too late the ravages of confirmed 
pulmonary consumption ? Among all the 
short-sightedness which regard the education 
of the youth, this insane effort to over-stimu- 
late the child in mental tasks is the source of 
the greatest mischief to defective lungs ; and 
if you would know the result of this criminal 
cramming of weakly children, go count the 
little mounds in your cemetery. It is beauti- 
fully said, we go out of the world by the same 
changes almost as those by which we enter it. 
We begin as children— as children we leave 
off. We return at last to the same weak and 
helpless condition as our first. We must have 
people to lift us, to carry us, to provide nourish- 
ment and even to feed us. We again have 



Going South for the Winter. T 5 

need of parents ; and how wise the provision. 
We find them again in our children, who now 
take delight in repaying a part of that kind- 
ness which Ave showed them. Children now 
step, in, as it were, into the place of parents. 
While our weakness transposes us into the 
place of children, why, then, annihilate the 
children ? 

Another exciting cause of pulmonary dis- 
ease is the destructive perpetual motion, pro- 
longed irritation and artificial life so charac- 
teristic of our irrepressible American people, 
particularly the young. When our people 
will persist in despising the dictates of nature 
and indulge in excesses that must develop dis- 
ease, while keeping up a continual ruinous, 
physical and mental activity, giving brain and 
muscle no time for rest, driving ahead like a 
drove of sheep, how can such people expect to 
escape diseases of the vital organs ? Every 
well-informed person knows that these nerv- 
ous, excitable, fidgety, fussy, bustling, awfully- 
emcient, restless spirits, with not a moment for 
reflection or repose, and without exercising 



J 6 Going South for the Winter. 

the slightest deliberation or discrimination in 
eating, must hereafter suffer for such impru- 
dence. Another active cause of consumption 
(among females) is undue lactation. Few moth- 
ers have the constitutional vigor required 
to nurse the infant an unusual number of 
months. Many cases of lung trouble derive 
their origin from reckless exposure at late 
hours of the night without suitable clothing, 
especially under-wear, to protect the body 
from chill when over-warm and cooling rap- 
idly, arresting the functions of the skin,, and 
forcing upon the circulation the work for the 
pores of the skin. No reasonable man will 
follow the popular notion that one becomes 
hardy by exposure to cold. Those children 
are fortunate, indeed, whose guardians do not 
strip their little legs of every covering in their 
earliest childhood, laying the foundation for 
pulmonary trouble. 



Going South for the Winter, l 7 

ATMOSPHERIC VICISSITUDES. 

Consumptive people are especially alive to 
the fact that the kind of air they breathe has 
a more or less exciting and controlling influ- 
ence over the frequency and depth of their 
respiration. 

In breathing the foul air escaped from de- 
cayed compounds of garbage of the streets, 
or the confined air, pulverized dust and ema- 
nations from the body, floated in the atmos- 
phere of lecture-rooms or a crowded ball- 
room, with its hundreds of maddened, flying, 
human beings, the consumptive suffers imme- 
diately from a decided clogging of the respir- 
atory apparatus. The respiration becomes 
labored, the difficulty increasing till there is 
complete aeration of the blood by a fresh sup- 
ply of oxygen. Again, if the air contained 
more than the natural proportion of oxygen, 
we could not breathe it ; its stimulating effect 
upon the respiratory movements are such as 
to endanger life. 

The air of the atmosphere is productive of 



J 8 Going South for the Winter. 

such a variety of effects upon the condition of 
the consumptive invalid, that it cannot be 
overlooked in the treatment of phthisis. Ask 
a schoolboy to define atmosphere, and he will 
tell you that it is a thin, transparent, invisible 
fluid which surrounds us, and reaches above 
us about forty miles. He will tell you that 
atmospheric air. is known to be composed of, 
at least, two kinds of air — the one called 
oxygen, the other nitrogen gas. 

Oxygen gas is our great agent in respiration, 
while the purity of the air we breathe must 
depend upon the proportion of oxygen in the 
atmosphere — the proper proportion of these 
two parts of the air being, as supposed, about 
twenty-six parts oxygen and seventy-three of 
nitrogen, with the small quantity of hydrogen 
and carbonic acid gas. With a view to ascer- 
tain the medicinal qualities of the air, many 
inferences from speculations and experiments 
have been made, but without any very satis^ 
factory results. We have instruments for 
measuring and testing the air, but not much 
has been done of practical value to the con-. 



Going South for the Winter. l 9 

sumptive. But we have a daily accumulation 
of unmistakable evidence, that for the con- 
sumptive to visit public places of amusement 
and ball-rooms, and breathe such an irritating 
atmosphere, as for hours they must do, is 
surely to peril life, by exhausting what little 
vitality remains, sending them to their lodg- 
ings with increased respirations, pale face and 
flushing of the cheeks, to pass a restless night, 
accompanied with incessant coughing and 
sweating, till overcome by complete prostra- 
tion. We are told that in two hours one hun- 
dred persons will render unfit for respiration 
one thousand feet of cubic air of a lecture- 
hall, and that each gas jet produces as much 
poisonous air as four persons. 

Professor Ganot, in his experiments, assures 
us of what amount of pressure we bear from 
the atmosphere. He says : " Considering the 
surface of a man of fair size to be about twelve 
square feet, the weight which the man sup- 
ports on the surface of his body is upwards of 
eleven tons. Such an enormous pressure 
might seem impossible to be borne ; but it 



20 Going South for the Winter, 

must be remembered that in all directions 
there are equal and contrary pressure which 
counterbalance one another. It might be sup- 
posed," he says, " that the effect of this force 
of air, acting in all directions, would be to 
press the body together and crush it ; but the 
solid parts of the skeleton could resist a far 
higher pressure ; and as the air and liquids 
contained in the organs and vessels, the air 
having the same density as the external air, 
cannot be further compressed by atmospheric 
air." 

The pressure from within is easily seen by 
the distension of the surface when the exter- 
nal pressure is removed from any part of the 
body by the air-pump. Now, as we are able, 
to a certain degree, to determine the physical 
and medicinal qualities of the air, we can form 
a pretty clear judgment of the dryness, hu- 
midity and effects of air on the condition of 
the consumptive. 

Every intelligent person knows how thor- 
oughly vegetable and animal poisons impreg- 
nate the air ; and it is just as well known that 



Going South for the Winter. 2I 

certain localities are noted for the frequency 
of fevers ; another as the certain source o f 
diarrheal diseases ; another as fostering and 
encouraging disease of the throat and lungs, 
with- asthmatic difficulty; another region is, 
perhaps, prominent for endemic and epidemic 
visitations, all conveyed " on the wings of the 
wind." Much of the wide-spread diseases of 
the chest is to be directly traced to the poison 
in the air. 

It is considered that the air of the higher 
situation is more pure than that of the lower 
country ; but Hufeland says, " the greatest 
degree of height, the glaciers, is prejudicial 
to health, and Switzerland, the highest land 
in Europe, has produced fewer instances of 
longevity than Scotland." 

The only explanation we have for this is, 
that the atmosphere is too dry, ethereal and 
pure, and therefore consumes more quickly, 
which is unfavorable to duration of life. 

Uniformity in the condition of the atmos- 
phere, particularly in regard to heat and cold, 
is what we most desire for the consumptive, 
3 



22 Going South for the Winter. 

who should avoid, if possible, localities where 
great and sudden variations of barometer and 
thermometer are usual. While all extremes, 
either too much or too little, too high or too 
low, are necessarily dangerous for persons 
with weak lungs. 

A situation subject to a continual mixture 
of heat and cold, where one experiences often 
in the course of the day March and July 
weather, is dangerous to pulmonary patients. 
To consumptives, a very high degree of dry- 
ness of the air, as well as too great moisture, 
are alike unfavorable. It is said moist air, 
being already saturated, has less attractive 
power over bodies — that it consumes them 
less. We know that in a moist atmosphere 
there is always more uniformity of tempera- 
ture, and an atmosphere somewhat moist is 
supposed to keep the organs longer pliable ; 
whereas that which is too dry brings on much 
sooner aridity of the vessels, and all the cha- 
racteristics of old age. Hufeland says, "In 
islands mankind always become older than in 
continents tying under the same latitude ; that 



Going South for the Winter. 2 3 

men live longer in the islands of the Archi- 
pelago than in the neighboring countries of 
Asia, in Cyprus than in Syria, in Japan than 
China, and in England than Germany." 

The consumptive can have no vitality or 
healthy circulation of the blood without the 
lungs, heart, brain and stomach perform their 
work with energy. Cramming with nourish- 
ment, without complete oxygenation of the 
blood, will not accomplish the work. 

The consumptive must be surrounded with, 
and breathe in a pure atmosphere ; but the 
habit of exposing oneself to a draught or 
stream of cold air is not to be indulged. All 
the refreshing, restorative and invigorating 
influences of the air can be had without 
the careless exposure and letting down of the 
sash of every window in the apartment, mak- 
ing the admission of fresh air almost fatal to 
the pulmonary invalid. 

The offensive and dangerous air of a close 
room, so destructive to the rapid improve- 
ment of the consumptive can find its escape 
by other and better outlets. The open fire- 



2 4 Going South for the Wivter. 

place, and the improved ventilator, which 
should be attached to every sick-room, and 
which no house can be complete without. 

It is a lamentable fact that so many friends, 
having the care of the sick, do not at all ap- 
preciate the advantages of a well-ventilated 
sick-room, with all the appliances and con-, 
veniences that science, kindness and common 
sense would dictate. Such an apartment 
should be complete in all the appurtenances 
of a luxurious sick-room. When not required 
for an invalid; the rooms could always be 
used as the much-needed apartment for steal- 
ing a little quiet forgetfulness and plenteous 
repose, at a time when, in every other room 
in the house, one cannot sleep without being 
liable to be disturbed, just when to be dis- 
turbed is to make one furious. 

Many persons have a confused notion of 
how much fresh air is required to fill a sick- 
room, as well as how to provide an escape for 
the noxious gases. An open window is not 
always a safe method of ventilation. The 
vicious, confined air of a sick-room is always 



Going South for the Winter. 2 5 

ascending to the ceiling, and there coming in 
contact with the cool wall is condensed, be- 
comes heavier, and falls along the side of the 
wall to the floor, where it should find its proper 
escape at an open fire-place, and not at the 
window. 



CLIMATIC INFLUENCES. 

While there is no longer a doubt or want 
of proof of a successful treatment of phthisis 
pulmonalis, there is a doubt of the climatic 
influences, all things considered, best suited 
to phthisis cases ; and as there is no disease 
so certainly anticipated and influenced by cli- 
matic changes, the question becomes one of 
the utmost importance for the consideration 
of the consumptive. If life is to be shortened 
by remaining North in the winter, or health 
secured and life prolonged by " going South 
for the winter," then, of course, there can be 
no choice for the consumptive. When we 
know that as many as twenty thousand north- 



26 Goincf South for the Winter. 

ern pulmonary invalids passed through Rich- 
mond, Charleston and Savannah on their way 
South during every winter since the late " un- 
pleasantness," it will be seen that it is an im- 
portant question, whether these thousands who 
endure all the discomforts and privations inci- 
dent thereto realize the improvement so anx- 
iously sought, or can the expenditure of money, 
time, patience and strength be saved with a 
prospect of renewal of health without " going 
South for the winter." It is certainly the most 
refined cruelty to send the poor consumptives 
so far from home and friends, hurried off in 
an apparently helpless condition, unless fully 
informed of their destination and discomforts 
awaiting them. It is a sad state that in which 
you find many unfortunate northern consump- 
tives in the South during the winter months. 
Too many are ordered or advised to go " down 
South " often without the slightest intelligent 
preparation, without the most simple but ne- 
cessary comforts provided, totally uninformed 
of where they are to go or how to get there. 
Some there are who go South in the winter 



Going South for the Winter. 2 7 

for amusement, leaving" home in perfect health, 
and who readily find everything " couleur de 
rose," securing so-called comforts and accom- 
modations which, to our poor, suffering inva- 
lid Avould simply be outrageous and danger- 
ous trifling. Consumptive invalids need com- 
forts, attention, sympathy and encouragement, 
and cannot be expected to join with the hearty 
travellers in the pell-mell rush for steamboat, 
stage, state-room, hotel register and sleeping- 
car. Many consumptives who reach Florida 
alive are often in a most painfully distressing 
state — low spirited, far away from home, dis- 
couraged and among strangers, their suffer- 
ings cannot well be imagined. Sent from 
home on a forlorn hope, too many of these 
poor wandering people only reach their desti- 
nation and die. 

Wintering in the South, particularly Eastern 
Florida, which is so often alluded to for the 
supposed curative influence of the atmosphere, 
is attended with some difficulties and priva- 
tions which it is well for the consumptive to 
consider before going South. All considera- 



2 8 Going South for the Winter. 

tions of climate must be comparative. The 
alternations of heat and cold cannot, even in 
Florida, be relied upon entirely. The climate, 
generally so delicious in winter, will, at times, 
conduct itself like a wayward child, while the 
incapacity of the hotel-keepers, want of atten- 
tion to guests, and manner of preparing food, 
which is often perfectly innutritions and but 
poorly cooked, so different from what the con- 
sumptive is accustomed to at home, that he 
early loses all relish for anything placed be- 
fore him, and the consequence is the body is 
never well nourished. 

It would, therefore, prove a weak and foolish 
act for consumptive people to go to Florida, 
or elsewhere South, in search of health, while 
they are entirely unacquainted with the nature 
of the country, — the temperature, contagious 
miasmata, atmospheric vicissitudes, elevation, 
dryness or humidity, and quality of the diet 
and drinking water. 

They might find, instead of the cool 
draughts of sweet pure water in their northern 
springs, only the most nauseous pond and lake 



Going South for the Winter. 29 

water of abominable taste and qualities, and 
often without a particle of ice to settle the 
mud in the drinking vessels ; perhaps, instead 
of the refreshing breeze so grateful to the 
parched and feverish consumptive, only the 
most suffocating air. They might find no frost 
or snow, but instead, the heat of the sun at 
meridian pouring its unpitying rays upon an 
already weakened frame ; and the heavy dews 
at night, not at all what they were led to 
expect by the exaggerated reports of interest- 
ed and inconsiderate parties. They might 
discover that to obtain a nourishing and pal- 
atable diet was attended with uncontrollable 
difficulties, and often impossible. 

It is easy for people who are strong and 
hearty, and who can devour everything be- 
fore them greedily, to say that the hotel- 
keepers do really seem to do their best for 
their guests, and it won't do to be too hard 
on them ; but my inquiries and experiments 
in Florida were not made with reference to 
such people, but entirely with an eye to the 
interest of the suffering consumptive, and 

4 



30 Going South for the Winter. 

those sportsmen who so boastfully talk of 
the splendid entertainment they receive are 
not to be considered in this treatise. I am 
sure I care nothing for the interest and suc- 
cess of the hotel adventurers, who " run " 
their hotels as if their guests had no rights, 
which hotel-men are bound to respect, and 
who are many times so regardless of the 
comfort of those unfortunately sick thrown 
in their way, being indifferent to everything 
but skill in packing the greatest number of 
invalids in the smallest possible space at three 
and four dollars per day. This packing system 
in Florida is pushed with systematic vigor ; 
and as for beds, it were easier to stand up and 
sleep. Those stupid and deluded people who 
are so simple as to imagine they are well pro- 
vided for at a Florida hotel only excite my 
pity. The consumptive must have always and 
everywhere a regular systematic and nutritious 
diet, and a rousing, restoring heroic treatment, 
and how to get it for the winter in the South 
is the question. 

The climate of Florida in the winter is 



Going South for the Winter, 3 1 

generally most delightfully warm with glorious 
sunshine arid without frost, but to obtain any- 
thing more, the most simple food and miser- 
able accommodation, in the present state of 
things, is very difficult. The hotels must de- 
pend, for their uncertain supplies, upon the 
St. John river steamers from the North. A 
person in health can enjoy the winter and live 
well (for him) while shooting and fishing, 
but the pulmonary invalid, accustomed to the 
delicacies and comforts at home, cannot get 
food of a sufficiently nutritive, palatable and 
supporting character. Such articles of diet, 
as fine fresh butter, rich cream, fat beef and 
lamb, strong hearty animal food, which is of 
the greatest consequence, and which the con- 
sumptive must have if he would improve his 
distressed condition, he cannot get. 

Parties who go to East Florida with the 
stupid idea that they will buy the needful 
delicacies, will find, on " interviewing " the 
freedman, that greenbacks are not sufficient 
inducement to persuade the colored man to 
shoot and fish for anybody. While the contin- 



3 2 Going South for the Winter, 

uous lakes that make up the St. John's river 
are alive with fine fish, jumping from the 
water in every direction and easily taken ; if 
the verdant invalid beg the native to catch 
some fish for him, he will probably tell you, 
" No use gwyne to dar riber, cause the gud 
durn fish don't bite dar, sho' as you live> 
boss." 

The innocent delight of the Florida " fit- 
teenth amendment " is to sleep, eat bacon, and 
keep " shady " whenever he can ; so that the 
pulmonary invalid from the North must go 
without his fresh fish, or paddle his own 
canoe and hunt and fish for himself, which is 
impossible. 

From the difficulty of receiving supplies 
from the North in good order in Florida, the 
regulation of the diet, an essential point, cannot 
be properly attended to at the hotels, now the 
winter resorts of the army of northern in- 
* valids. Consumptive people may be im- 
proved on the hog and hominy diet, but I have 
not happened to fall in with any who looked 
as if they had been improved. Florida does 



Going South for the Winter. 33 

not produce good beef, mutton, or milk, all of 
which are positively necessary for making up 
a diet for the consumptive. 



"GOIXG OFF." 

No one who may be suffering from pulmon 
ary consumption should venture to leave the 
comforts, sympathy, attention, nutritious diet 
and encouragement to be found at home 
among friends, and go " South for the win- 
ter," without having made the most ample 
and liberal preparation. 

The question of going, and where to go, 
should be well discussed, and, when decided, 
go direct to the point selected, without loiter- 
ing about with careless indifference concern- 
ing your movements. 

There is generally great depression, un- 
easiness, and often complete breaking down of 
the unfortunate consumptive, when " Going 
Off." While the dread of leaving friends and 
loved relations, perhaps, for the last time, is 
very touching, and altogether indescribable, 



34 Going South for the Winter. 

many times producing- serious nervous pros- 
trations, which cannot but be dangerous to 
the consumptive. 

This should not be encouraged, but wisely 
provided for when friends are 

" Going South for the winter." 



"HOW TO GO/' 

In " going South for the winter," the invalid 
has a choice of route ; parties who do not 
suffer from sea-sickness, will find the steamers 
leaving New York several times a week, the 
most desirable conveyance, provided the in- 
valid can be assured of any positive comfort in a 
sea voyage, cooped up in the close cabin, and 
after, pounded to a jelly almost, from rolling 
in the berth of a state-room. 

Most invalids who suffer from phthisis in 
" going South for the winter," should take the 
safe and easy route from New York to Phila- 
delphia, ninety miles, by rail, remain over one 
or two days at Philadelphia ; then from Phila- 
delphia, (stop at Baltimore), to Washington, 



Going South for the Winter. 35 

one hundred and thirty-six miles, by rail; 
again, leave Washington for Richmond, (stop 
at Wilmington), one hundred and thirty miles, 
by rail; a few days at Richmond for repose 
and renewed strength, and then off for Augusta, 
Georgia, when the consumptive will be wise if 
he stop a while, en route. Many consump- 
tives would find it profitable and healthful to 
remove to Augusta permanently, perhaps. 
At all events, to winter here is worth a triaL 
The city of Augusta is a handsome and 
thriving place, very like a northern city, and 
more pleasing in appearance to the eye of a 
northern man than any city south of Baltimore. 
The changes of temperature are sometimes sud- 
den, however, and March winds rather trying. 
■Having decided to leave Augusta, you may 
take the roomy sleeping-car for Savannah. 

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. 

Savannah is the largest city of Georgia, 
and very beautifully laid out. Streets gen- 
erally unpaved, but all handsomely shaded by 
the charming Melia Azedarach (Pride of In- 



3 6 Going South for the Winter. 

dia) trees. There are the most lovely little 
squares or parks all over the city, in all, about 
twenty or thirty, lined with lofty shade trees. 
Opposite the " Pulaski House," on the square, 
is a noble monument erected in memory of 
Gen. Pulaski. The luxuriance of the growth, 
and the freshness of the out-door creeping 
vines and shrubs, add much to the appearance 
of the city. The wonderful cemetery of 
Bonaventre is a great curiosity to the stranger. 
A week spent here at the " Pulaski," or 
" Skreven House * will give the consumptive 
invalid an opportunity to renew his strength, 
and eat the last good meal he may expect till 
returned from Florida. 

The drinking water of the city is poor and 
even dangerous to some persons who use it 
for the first time. The writer would not be 
doing his duty if he neglected to warn stran- 
gers against indulging freely in the drinking 
water of Savannah, and, in fact, all the drink- 
ing water after leaving Charleston to go South, 
should be used with caution. The consump- 
tive has more to fear from a violent diarrhea, 



Going South for the Winter. 37 

brought about by the unhealthy water every- 
where south of Charleston, than he can 
imagine. The writer knows of what he speaks, 
having seen and felt the effects of drinking this 
water, in his own, and a number of other cases 
of northern people who go South. 

The city of Savannah, with its great, noble 
old trees, wide streets, neat well-kept parks 
and abundance of shade, has more the appear- 
ance of a great county town, than the busy 
commercial city that it is. The winters are 
very mild and the atmosphere easy to breathe, 
but generally pretty well charged with 
moisture. 



THE OTHER ROUTE. 

The invalid who is seriously ill, and is de- 
sirous of going through to Florida without stop- 
ping, would find that a very difficult matter to 
accomplish by rail, as the cars do not connect 
as promptly as they should. A sleeping-car 
could be taken at New York through to Rich- 

5 



3$ Going South for the Winter, 

mond, and again sleeping-car to Augusta and 
Charleston. 

To go by steamer to Charleston is the most 
direct, if the patient can weather a sea-voyage 
in winter ; then from Charleston to Savannah 
and Jacksonville, by the " inside" route ; mak- 
ing the outside sea-trip only that from New 
York to Charleston. 



CHARLESTON. 

A few days at Charleston will not be lost to 
the invalid ; and this city, as a home for the 
winter, will suit a class of consumptives who 
must be in regular and easy communication 
with the Eastern States. 

The inducements for remaining at Charles- 
ton a short time for a trial of the air, before 
going to Florida, are many. The city always 
has a warm, cheerful look ; with its streets 
lined with ornamental trees, tasty gardens and 
profusion of shrubbery and climbing vines en- 
closing the neatly painted piazzas, all combin- 



Going South for the Winter. 39 

ing to remind the stranger of spring and sum- 
mer at home. 

The houses — many of them are of elegant 
and solid proportions. The streets are well 
and widely laid out — though now need paving 
again — with the stones removed from the 
streets to fill up a wall for Fort Sumter dur- 
ing the war. The business part of the city — 
on which are the warehouses and shops — pre- 
sent always a lively, busy scene. The stores 
are well supplied with French and English 
goods. Many of the wealthy residents who 
suffered so severely [during the late war, 
and who still occupy the best dwellings, are 
to be seen daily out among the well-dressed 
crowd ; and easily recognized by their digni- 
fied manner and characteristic style. Some 
of the best houses are yet in a dilapidated con- 
dition, having a forlorn, deserted look, as if 
they were frowning down upon the spot from 
whence Gilmore and his swamp-angel sent so 
many unwelcome messages. 

Charleston has some excellent hotels, which 
are the attraction always for the stranger in a 



40 Going South for the Winter. 

strange place. The " Mills House" is a stately 
building, and pleasantly situated. The old 
popular resort, the "Charleston House," is 
much in the style of " Barnum's Hotel " of 
Baltimore ; and is a most comfortable, roomy, 
old-fashioned hotel ; the rooms are large and 
airy. In this city and neighborhood are 
"sights" enough to amuse the invalid for a 
few days while resting, before taking the 
steamer to Savannah. Fort Sumter, Magno- 
lia Cemetery, Castle Pinckney, the old Custom- 
house, where our revolutionary patriots were 
held by the British, are, with many public 
buildings and private residences, worth see- 
ing. The time can be agreeably employed in 
a variety of beautiful drives in the immediate 
vicinity of the city. Charleston has some fine 
club-houses, restaurants, and excellent Mill 
Pond oysters. Theatres and places of amuse- 
ment are not numerous, or very well sup- 
ported. There is little sociability, except 
among the middle-class of society. The old 
South Carolinians are very reserved, and 
proudly claim a superiority — former elegance 



\ 



Going South for the Winter, 4 1 

and lavish luxury — which will not permit them 
to visit only in their own circle. It would be 
difficult to find a better place, or more com- 
fortable hotel to stop at and luxuriate a little 
before "going to Florida for the winter." 



JACKSONVILLE. 

The town — or rather as the inhabitants love 
to call it — city of Jacksonville, stretches along 
the west side of the river St. John, and back 
into the country a considerable distance. This 
town, with a harbor so spacious that ocean 
vessels of a thousand tons can come up the 
river to the landing, and a population consist- 
ing now mostly of New England people, is 
destined to be the great business centre of 
Florida. The climate is balmy, and remark- 
ably soothing ; with cool nights, such as to 
make it necessary to have a good fire after 
sun-set, as a safe-guard against fevers. The 
buildings are extremely old-fashioned, and of 
irregular style, wanting paint badly ; and 
now either whitewashed, or entirely neglected, 



4 2 Going South for the Winter. 

presenting a faded, dreary appearance. The 
soil is very light ; and in order to make the 
streets passable for pedestrians, each side of 
the main streets is paved with plank, which 
answers pretty well for a footpath. 

The chief attraction for northern people to 
go to Jacksonville to locate permanently, is 
the peculiar climate, cheapness of land, (two 
or three, dollars per acre,) and opportunities 
for market gardening, which is largely entered 
into by Eastern States people all along the 
river. There is much activity and business 
energy exhibited by the people, and the profits 
of market gardening, with frequent oppor- 
tunities for shipping North from here, will 
make Jacksonville a very busy place. A 
number of store-houses and neat cottages 
have recently been erected, and the grounds 
attached to the new houses are all prettily 
laid out, with walks and shrubs and the great- 
est variety of flowers, which can be cultivated 
and bloom all winter. The character and ap- 
pearance of Jacksonville is being changed and 
modernized. In fact, the whole town is being 



Going South for the Winter, 43 

rebuilt and made a New England town. A 
large hotel, called the St. James, capable of 
accommodating comfortably one hundred or 
more guests, is now open, has a good situation, 
a few moments' walk from the landing. The 
other hotels have been longer built, but are 
good enough of their kind. There are any 
number of private boarding-houses, which 
will receive parties to board for the winter, 
and one would think there was room enough 
for all who wished to remain at Jacksonville 
for a trial of the air, before going further 
South on the river. Still, many invalids who 
arrive here in urgent nee,d of nice comfortable 
quarters, are frequently compelled to put up 
with quite inferior apartments. 

The rush to Jacksonville is often so great, 
that if the whole population of the town 
should turn out, their houses would not fur- 
nish room for the army of consumptives who 
have found their way here. There are a few 
cows to be found here, but unskimmed milk, 
fresh eggs, and good butter are very scarce, and 
command high prices. The charges for board, 



44 Going South for the Winter. 

at all the winter resorts of invalids who go to 
Florida, is about what you pay at any of 
our northern summer resorts, but rooms can 
sometimes be had by parties of three or four, 
who furnish their own table, and, perhaps, 
board at a low price, can be had in some 
hotels and boarding-houses ; but, good board, a 
generous table, attendance, and such fare as the 
consumptive must positively have, will cost 
three, four, and five dollars per day. The 
most decided indifference as to what quantity 
and quality of food is supplied for the con- 
sumptive, is remarked at all the stopping 
places in Florida. The expenses are large, 
and the trouble of keeping a good supply of 
fresh meats in such a climate, makes all hotel 
people keep an eye to the profits, — their " sea- 
son" being only for three months. There is 
daily communication with the North from 
Jacksonville, by rail and boat. Steamers from 
this town are daily ascending and descending 
the river, while, often the consumptive will 
have more comfort and better table on the 
steamers " City Point," and " Lizzie Baker," 



Going South for the Winter. 45 

or " Dictator," than can be had on the shores 
at boarding-houses ; but, anywhere and every- 
where, the fare is poor, and not suited to the 
condition of the worn-out famished sufferer, 
with lung disease. 



MANDAKIN. 

Going South from Jacksonville on the 
steamer " Dictator," you soon come in sight 
of a rickety old pier, fronting a point of land 
called Mandarin, a most uninviting, gloomy 
place to live, one would say. This spot is 
marked by all invalids going on the river St. 
John, and by all Southerners, from the fact of 
Mrs. Stowe being the owner of everything 
there worth having, including an orange grove 
of great promise. 



MAGNOLIA. 

Dr. Benedict, of St. Augustine, was the 
first to take advantage of this " opening," and 
at one time had a flourishing establishment 
6 



4-6 Going South for the Winter. 

here, which has passed out of his hands, and 
the Dr. resumed practice in St. Augustine. 
The hotel is still open, and guests receive all 
the attention and comfort possible to have in 
this region. The steamers on the St. John all 
touch at Magnolia, and a number of northern 
consumptives stop for the winter. The hotel, 
as in fact are nearly all on the river, is kept 
by Eastern States people. It is not unusual to 
meet with invalids in Florida who are very 
happy about their improvement at Magnolia. 
It will not, perhaps, damage the consumptive 
much, after once on the St. John river, to give 
all these places a temporary trial. It won't 
do for a sick man to lose his senses, and 
rashly give up all hope of benefit without a 
trial. 

HIBERNIA, 

A good place, surely, for a hearty party of 
sportsmen to bivouac. Hibernia has the same 
features in common with all other places on 
the river. When a steamer touches the land- 
ing here, there is always some poor consump- 



Going South for the Winter. 47 

tive creature leaving the boat to find his way 
to the little hotel, not knowing or caring why, 
often. The languid indifference of these 
wretched people, ignorantly wandering about 
in search of health, reminds one Of the gone- 
ness and lost personality of a man thoroughly 
sea-sick. The only change and pastime the 
unfortunates have while here, is to get down 
to the landing on the arrival of every boat, 
and, with their upturned faces, watch each 
passenger in the hope of seeing a familiar face 
from the cold North ; and the delight and 
satisfaction on seeing some consumptive ac- 
quaintance come off the plank is wonderful, 
even though they wish no one ill. Still misery 
loves company. 

GREEN COVE SPRING. 

At a landing called Green Cove Spring, 
you find you are over one hundred miles south 
of Jacksonville on the St. John river. Here 
there is one hotel and several good private 
boarding-houses. Captain Glinski and Cap- 



4$ Going South for the Winter, 

tain Henderson, old residents, have a select 
number of guests in their private houses dur- 
ing the winter, and if the invalid must go to 
this place, it is wise to get accommodations at 
either of these two private boarding-houses. 
A multitude of consumptive and rheumatic- 
ally-disposed people go to Green Cove Spring, 
and many land without finding any decent ac- 
commodation whatever. The only hotel is 
generally crowded when the boat reaches the 
pier ; and T hope my readers may never see 
the distressing sight of such poor exhausted 
invalids as one will see dragging their weary 
limbs over this long pier to the hotel, to have 
only the pleasing intelligence that " if you will 
room with a nice party on the top floor now, I 
can do better by and by." And this is re- 
peated day after day, all winter, through the 
whole of Florida. 

The writer was glad to find shelter, and de- 
lighted on being favored even with a comfort- 
able bed on the floor of the parlor of the 
hotel, he making one of four compagnons de 
voyage, three being just arrived from the cold 



Going South for the Winter, 49 

North, without scarce a spark of life left them. 
The parlor, smoking-room and every vacant 
spot in-doors, is used to " stow away " the suf- 
ferers. The parlor being the poorest place 
for the invalid to be booked for, as he must 
" stop up " till the room is left by the guests 
of the house. This will apply to all resorts 
now so crowded by northern invalids in 
search of health. 

Excepting during a few days in winter, the 
climate is delightful — but not stimulating or 
tonic in the least — quite warm in the day-time, 
and, for some, almost debilitating. The sul- 
phur spring is resorted to by persons suffering 
from rheumatism and dyspepsia, who think 
they get benefited. The spring consists of a 
basin about fifty feet across, inclosed by under- 
growth completely, so that bathers who use 
the water have the privilege to bathe without 
the vexation of using a close bathing-room — 
rather a primitive style — but where all are so 
dreadfully sick, it is not considered necessary 
to be too nice about appearances. It is under- 
stood among those who frequent this pool of 



5° Going South for the Winter. 

sulphur water that there are days reserved 
for females to enjoy the water exclusively. 

A beautiful leaping cascade is formed from 
the waste water of the spring, and the water 
is always strongly impregnated with sulphur, 
which is gulped down by many enthusiasts. 
At this resort, beautiful enough by nature, 
you experience the same difficulty as else- 
where in Florida — the serious want of ice, 
good drinking water, milk and strong rich food. 
There is a want of appetite and a relaxed 
feeling, without the bracing air of the North 
(cold as it is), to give tone to the system and 
life to the blood. Under the most favorable 
circumstances, perhaps, some consumptives 
could winter here and possibly improve. 

It should be positively understood between 
the partv "going South for the winter" and 
parties who engage to furnish apartments and 
proper board for the consumptive invalid, that 
no mistake is made. It is generally impossible 
to secure good accommodations on the arrival 
of the steamer at any of these landings in 
Florida, unless engaged before, and often not 



Going South for the Winter. 5 1 

even then. Hotel-men are quite indifferent 
about the matter. 



PILATKA. 

This is the most agreeable place the con- 
sumptive will meet on the river St. John. 
This little village, with a half dozen country 
stores, a hotel, good drug-store, two churches 
and a newspaper, is the only live place after 
leaving Jacksonville. Pleasant cottages are 
here and there springing up to help the ap- 
pearance of the place. 

The river boats all stop at this landing, 
affording constant communication between this 
place and Savannah. Mr. Austin, from one 
of the Eastern States, keeps a very comfort- 
able hotel, and provides as good a table as at 
any other point on the river. A new hotel, 
well kept, well provided and well supplied 
with such comforts and luxuries as consump- 
tives need, and suffer without, would, if esta- 
blished here, pay beyond anything a hotel- 
speculator could imagine. 



5 2 Going South for the Winter. 

The village is situated upon the most rising 
ground on the river. The stores all have a 
good supply of northern goods. The air is 
pure and soothing to pulmonary irritations, 
with a clear sky and abundance of sunshine — 
that great source of human joy and friend 
of the consumptive. The writer was struck 
with the evident opportunity offered, and the 
wisdom and advantage to persons suffering 
from pulmonary consumption, to organize and 
leave home in a company, with servants, 
nurse and a good supply of comforts and 
conveniences, to locate here for the winter, 
sending forward temporary cottages, shipped 
and put up ready to receive them. In this 
way all the necessary provisions could be 
made for a comfortable winter, while orders 
could be held for luxuries, knick-knacks, meats 
and delicacies regularly from the North. 
There are enough consumptives who can 
"join in," after reaching Florida, and pursue 
this course. Tomatoes, green peas, radishes 
and lettuce, with early potatoes, can be grown 
as early as March. 



Going South for the Winter, 53 

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA. 

St. Augustine we know to be the oldest set- 
tled place in the United States. The old 
friend of Columbus was the first to visit the 
coast, and named it Florida, from the great 
number and variety of flowers. The little set- 
tlement of St. Augustine was at one time com- 
pletely sacked and plundered by an English 
pirate who found his way here. In 1640 there 
was a population of two thousand persons, 
who made up a thrifty little village. General 
Jackson forced the Spanish to lower their 
standard to the Stars and Stripes, after a Span- 
ish rule of two hundred years. General Jack- 
son never spared his men in this Florida war — 
marching them hundreds of miles in the short- 
est possible time. 

A Spanish captain brought to the settlement 
of St. Augustine as early as 1690 a lot of Span- 
ish negroes to work his plantation ; hence the 
early inauguration of slavery. St. Augustine 
has more to recommend it as a winter resi- 
dence for persons suffering from diseases of 

7 



54 Going South for the Winter. 

the chest than any other spot in Florida. The 
climate is extremely mild and lovely, with 
strong tonic sea-air. Many wealthy people, 
who do not care to risk the extreme variations 
of temperature of our Northern States, have 
fled from a cold home in the North, purchased 
land and erected comfortable cottages here, 
for living during the winter, free from snow 
and eternal ice. For those consumptives who 
are recommended sea-air with mild climate, 
St. Augustine, in full view of the glorious 
ocean, lashing arid rolling heavily on the most 
beautiful shores, is unsurpassed as a winter 
home. The distressed consumptive, when 
here, is not so likely to suffer from the extreme 
languor and complete exhaustion, so common 
to persons with phthisis. The sea-breeze is 
most refreshing and invigorating to these 
feverish invalids. 

On rising of a morning, after a good night's 
rest, to find the warm morning sun shining 
brightly through your window is more cheer- 
ing and reviving than the feeling of disap- 
pointment on looking from your padded sick- 



Going South for the Winter. 55 

room out upon the snow-covered streets in 
the North. 

This old town is the only really favored spot 
to winter, in this whole flat, miserable, marshy 
country. The town is less than ten feet above 
the sea, and the Government constructed an 
extensive wall to protect the place from the 
encroachments of the sea (imperfections in this 
wall will sometime wake the inhabitants rather 
early of a morning). This great wall was from 
1837 to 1848 in building. The strangers who 
spend the winter here find this wall a grand 
promenade of a moonlight night, with the 
ocean bounding in upon one, till stayed by the 
granite wall at your feet. 

The United States band from the Barracks 
affords about the only entertainment of a pub- 
lic character. Every morning the officer of 
the day is called upon to change guard ; and 
while this is in order, the band of the post will 
give the people some fine music on the plaza. 
The streets here are only about nine feet wide, 
without a side-walk, which is the most amaz- 
ing sight you can see anywhere in Florida. 



5 6 Going South for the Winter. 

These streets were in time of the Spanish rule 
kept in excellent order ; but now are badly cut 
up, dirty and dusty with the shifting sand. 

The houses are but two stories high, with 
an out-reaching piazza fronting each, opening 
on the second floor ; from the piazza on one 
side of the street, across to one of the houses 
opposite, two persons could nearly touch 
hands. The plan of this old city reminds one 
of the oldest part of the city of Quebec. 
Very few of the old Spanish stock are now 
living here ; but you can detect in the bright 
eye, elastic step, and raven locks of some of 
the many pretty women, the evidence of the 
Spanish blood. There are two or three fair 
hotels ; but a first-class hotel is sadly needed. 
A number of private boarding-houses are open, 
kept by estimable, educated ladies, who do all 
in their power to make their guests comfort- 
able ; but unfortunately for new arrivals, are 
always full ; in fact, their apartments are en- 
gaged from year to year in advance. 

Northern invalids going to St. Augustine, 
will find almost every available house crowded 



Going South for the Winter. 57 

to the utmost, with wasted desponding- con- 
sumptives. The stranger who arrives here 
to remain the winter, without giving previous 
notice, and securing apartments, must expect 
to fare little better than at other Florida win- 
ter resorts. As to hotel management, it is just 
the same here at St. Augustine as you find it 
wherever the season is a short one, and hotel 
men must make their profits in a few short 
months during the year. Too often the ho- 
tels everywhere are conducted by parties en- 
tirely ignorant of the wants and necessities of 
their guests, who may be ill with consumption. 
There will be a change for the better in the 
hotel accommodation at St. Augustine short- 
ly, as enterprising parties of large experience 
in hotel management in New Jersey (Long 
Branch) are preparing to have in working 
order a much better hotel than has ever been 
known there ; which will prove profitable 
both to the proprietors and the public. Some 
persons who are now satisfied, perhaps well 
pleased with Florida hotels, but they are either 
sadly uninformed of the wants, comforts and 



5 8 Going South for the Winter, 

diet required by the consumptive, or are so 
hearty, and have so much vigor that they can- 
not understand why the sick and prostrate 
sufferer should have extra care and attention. 
If parties who go to St. Augustine in search 
of health, can take a cottage and supply their 
own table, or obtain board in one of the excel- 
lent private boarding-houses, they can be as- 
sured of a most lovely winter climate, with 
fruit and vegetables nearly all the winter. 
Oranges are very plenty, and exceedingly lus- 
cious. One cannot conceive of the life and 
freshness of the pure, golden fruit, plucked as 
they hang in clusters, direct from the enor- 
mous trees. A healthy orange-tree will yield 
from five to ten thousand marketable oranges 
yearly ; such trees are not unlike our mature, 
thrifty apple-trees, but much more compact, 
and inexpressibly lovely to look at, " oranges, 
sweet oranges," as they are floating in the 
bright sunlight of the sunny South. Previous 
to 1835, when St. Augustine was visited with 
the most severe frost ever known there, the 
income from oranges was very great. The 



Going South for the Winter. 59 

writer met with a number of speculators from 
the Eastern States who had invested all their 
means in a wild scheme of growing oranges 
for the northern market, and, of course, made 
a bad failure ; as have many cotton specula- 
tors who had entered plantations. Orange- 
trees are slow growers. It will be a good 
investment for a father to set an orange grove 
for his son, who, in twenty years, will have a 
fortune from his oranges. The best trees are 
twenty years of age. Such monstrous lemons 
are seen nowhere else, as are grown in gar- 
dens here. For those consumptive patients 
who can be located comfortably here for the 
winter, we can safely say, that there is no 
place in the United States equal to St. Au- 
gustine for a winter home of the invalid, who, 
after a trial, finds the disagreeable shortness of 
breath not increasing on him. 

The influence of such air and such a mild 
climate for a person suffering from weak lungs, 
is marked, and the improvement often rapid 
and lasting ; provided, the sick person can se- 
cure such diet and surroundings as are indis- 



6° Going South for the Winter, 

pensable in the treatment of phthisis, The op- 
portunity and inducements for exercise in the 
open air, with a clear, blue sky overhead, and 
numberless shady nooks and groves to hide 
in, while snuffing the pure sea-breezes ever 
changing, and coming to you filled with the 
saline emanations from the ocean, is truly 
grateful and profitable. The riding, driving 
and fishing in the midst of winter, with a beau- 
tiful sail of an afternoon over Matanzas Sound, 
and out of the inlet to the ocean, is something 
that, I believe, c'annot elsewhere be indulged 
in with so much satisfaction and benefit to the 
consumptive. There are to be seen any day 
in winter, on Matanzas Sound, enough of pleas- 
ure boats to hire for fishing and sailing, or 
alligator shooting, down the coast, inland, 
making sufficient amusement, if only sought 
after. 

In these statements, I only give my own ex- 
perience, which is entirely impartial and hon- 
est, having no interest but the interest of those 
consumptives who have no time to doubt or de- 
lay, and who are zealously seeking daily for a 



Going South for the Winter. 61 

true statement of the advantages (if any) of 
" going South for the winter," 

I wish now, to give to all such x timely warn- 
ing, that they must expect to endure priva- 
•tions and vexations which cannot be antici- 
pated. You must not expect to find perpetual 
sunshine, or equable temperature always any- 
where in the South. The dampness of even- 
ing will often warn the consumptive to seek 
the warmth and cheer of a good fire, even in 
Florida ; and on the damp, disagreeable days 
— as such occur during winter — extra caution 
about exposure and dress might be exercised. 

In reaching St. Augustine there is one seri- 
ous difficulty, and the uncertainty of getting 
away again, is worth mentioning. 

After touching a steamboat landing on the 
St. John River, named Picolata (which will 
always be remembered by the unfortunates), 
consisting of a one-story building for a stage 
station, where the poor ghostly, colorless suf- 
ferer is left by the steamer, ready to fall from 
exhaustion, and fainting for breath, upon the 
steamboat dock, is told he must remain in this 
8 



6 2 Going South J or the Winter. 

little station building, as the only shelter for 
the remainder of the day, and possibly with a 
chance of spending the night on the floor, 
with the best provision that can be made in 
the way of bedding, from this " Picolata," a" 
very tiresome ride of eighteen miles in horri- 
bly crowded stages, is the only opportunity 
to get to St. Augustine. In going to and re- 
turning from there, you find the stages always 
over-crowded and disagreeable. The strong- 
est passenger will always find stage seats, and 
over-reach the weaker who may require as- 
sistance to climb into the stages ; and the con- 
sequence is, the disappointed and discouraged 
health-seeker is obliged to stop at this apology 
for a stage depot, until the next day. The 
weakest consumptive must submit to all sorts 
of extortion, imposition and impudence prac- 
ticed upon him from the moment he leaves his 
home. The manner in which Northerners, far 
advanced in phthisis, and almost helpless, sub- 
mit to be packed in stages, steamboats and so- 
called hotels and boarding-houses in Florida, 
is marvellous. 



Going South for the Winter. 63 

After a night at Picolata station, you rise 
from a bed on the floor, (which the writer was 
glad to get going and returning from St. 
Augustine,) after an unrefreshing rest, and, 
with a scanty meal, prepare for a stage ride of 
five hours, through sand near a foot deep, for 
St. Augustine. If it were possible to know when 
the sick friends would reach " Picolata" land- 
ing, by all means get word to St. Augustine 
for a special conveyance to meet the boat on 
arrival. The people at this " station " are 
very kind and sympathising, wearing them- 
selves out to oblige the stranger, doing all 
they can with the very limited means pro- 
vided. All efforts are, however, unavailing 
for the comfort of the sick ; and it were far 
better, and, in fact the only sensible plan, to 
have a conveyance ready to take you across 
to St. Augustine direct. It is to be hoped 
that the irrepressible Yankee will soon open 
steam communication to St. Augustine, by 
changing the entrance to the harbor ; when 
soundings, now only nine feet on the bar at 
low water, preventing the approach of able 



6 4 Going South for the Winter, 

steamers, will be altered so as to admit large 
steamers. When this shall be accomplished, 
we expect to see this old town of St. Augus- 
tine the Newport of America. 



ENTERPRISE. 

On a lake far up the St. John river, at the 
head of navigation, south-east from St. Au'ius- 
tine, and almost hid from view by the gigantic 
water oak, magnolias, cypress, maple, pal- 
metto and palm, all embraced by the char- 
acteristic moss covering and hansfinsr in dis- 
mal masses of gray drapery from every limb, 
is a landing called Enterprise. This is as far 
south in Florida as invalids from the North 
ever think of o-oin^ for the winter. Here, in 
the midst of the great alligator nursery of 
the St. John, surrounded by mocking birds 
and stately white cranes, ofien startled by the 
scream of the bird of Washington, our 
imperial eagle, the consumptive can bask in 
the heat of the sun, (so intense as to hatch 
alligator eggs,) shining upon sand as white as 



Going South for the Winter, 65 

snow, blinding one, and making exercise im- 
possible. 

Enterprise has two or three houses and a 
hotel, owned by the captain and owner of the 
steam-boat " Darlington/' which brings you 
here from Jacksonville. Captain Brock rents 
his hotel to a down-easter and runs his steam- 
boat himself. The hotel building is quite a 
roomy house, capable of " crowding in " say 
forty or fifty guests. The proprietor keeps as 
good a house as can be expected so far from 
" everywhere." 

This single hotel is the only provision made 
to receive the worn-out, half-starved, dis- 
gusted invalid. This region is destitute of 
interest and comfort for the sick man, and 
entirely too far from home and friends to 
suit many who desire to winter in Florida ; 
everything used has to be boated up the river 
from the North. The country does not pro- 
duce anything ; ice is much wished for by the 
sick, but must be used sparingly from the 
difficulty of obtaining it, while none but insane 
consumptives would think of asking for good ice 



66 Going South for the Winter. 

water to drink on arriving at the landing here 
in the " Darlington," after a very tiresome trip 
up the river. If not so touching, it would be 
amusing to see the surprise of the strangers 
who crowd together looking vacantly about 
for the " village " of Enterprise. The place is 
so much talked of by healthy parties (sports- 
men) on the river, that the consumptive is 
deceived as to the character of the place, and 
in consequence, may go up to Enterprise, 
where they find the hotel full of northerners, 
sent down here' to die and be buried in the 
shifting sand. It is impossible to imagine the 
melancholy air, haggard, suffering, wasted 
form, sparkling eye, and sunken cheek of the 
poor creatures on the river and at all the 
landings, bathed in prespiration from weakness 
and the heat of the burning sun, parched and 
choked for ice and cooling drinks, wandering 
about dejected, disgusted with the transparent 
humbug of trying to gain health and strength 
in this barren waste, and almost ready to drop 
into the hideous jaws of the alligator and end 
their misery. 



Going South for the Winter, 67 

In this latitude bananas, figs, cocoa-nuts, 
coffee, olives, lemons, and ginger may be 
cultivated ; and while the climate here and at 
Indian River and Key West, is more mild 
than at any other locality within the limits of 
the United States, I would not care to have 
patients select this region for the winter ; but 
for sportsmen, who are " looking up " a place 
to enjoy the winter, there is no place where 
you can kill a breakfast of deer at easier rifle- 
shot without leaving your camp. The aston- 
ished deer will walk directly over your camp- 
ing place. Bear, panther, and wild-cat abound 
in the interior of the dense forest. The wea- 
ther is so mild, that the only shelter required, 
if you wish to lodge out-of-doors, is a simple 
rubber blanket, or you can suspend yourself 
with comfort on a hammock. 

As the mosquitoes never get their wings 
touched with frost, they are very healthy and 
troublesome late in the season. For alligator 
shooting, this cove of Enterprise is always 
alive with enormous alligators, which are only 
driven away from the landing by the steam- 



68 Going South for the Winter, 

boat. The further you go up the lake from 
here, the more plenty and bold you find the 
alligators, and all large game. It would 
prove spendid sport to take a boat and pad- 
dle up the lake, fighting your way among the 
twenty-feet long alligators, and if your pluck 
will allow you to go ashore in the marsh, you 
can walk over acres of alligators, while shoot- 
ing with the greatest ease and pleasure, as 
many splendid turkeys as would supply our 
eastern market for Thanksgiving Day. 

As I am only interested in the question of 
climatic influences in the treatment of pul- 
monary consumption, I will leave others to 
describe the wonderful and amazingly wild 
scenery, and all the wonders of the St. John 
river. Parties who wish for pure, unadulterated 
sport, hunting in the middle of winter, will 
find all the sport, and a table and accommoda- 
tion suited to their wants, at Captain Brock's 
hotel, at Enterprise ; but for the sick and 
weary consumptive, places not so far from di- 
rect and easy communication with the North 
should be tried first ; very few feeble con 



Going South for the Winter. &9 

sumptive persons have the strength required 
to undertake long journeys. The trip to En- 
terprise is attended with difficulties, and re- 
quires more exertion and effort than most 
invalids can endure, who will find only apolo- 
gies for the rich butter, delicious bread, fat 
beef, mutton, milk, and sweet cream, of special 
value to the sick man. 



LAKE HARNEY. 

Lake Harney can be visited by parties who 
choose to hire a little steamer kept for the 
purpose at this landing. The lake can be 
"done" in one day, and nowhere can pleas- 
ure-seekers find so much really-exciting sport, 
while gazing in wonder and delight upon a 
tropical wilderness. 

Hunting parties could leave New York in 
winter by the quickest and most direct route, 
reaching Brock's hotel at Enterprise at the 
end of a week — allowing two weeks for shoot- 
ing and another for returning — reaching home 

9 



7° Going South for the Winter. 

after only a month's absence, entirely surfeited 
with most magnificent sport. 



AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA. 

It would be impossible to find any climate 
fully equal to the necessities of the patients 
with pulmonary disease ; but nature not in- 
terfered with, and aided by climatic influences, 
will often provide more wisely for the con- 
sumptive than the physician can hope to. 

It must be remembered by the consump- 
tive, that, to accomplish much, he must him- 
self take advantage of every circumstance and 
opportunity for improvnig his condition. If he 
be wanting in prudence or resolution and 
promptitude in using all the means and influ- 
ences he can command to make a vigorous 
prosecution of his " battle for life," he will 
miserably fail. Every individual with serious 
lung trouble must feel that he is fighting for 
existence, if he would be successfully treated. 

Having taken a hasty view of all the points 
in Florida of interest to the consumptive, we 



Going South for the Winter. 7 l 

cannot do better than spend a few moments 
in considering the propriety of a winter in 
South Carolina. 

About one hundred miles by rail from 
Charleston, you will find a pleasant village 
and section of country covered with lofty old 
pines, and an atmosphere permeated with 
pitch-pine perfume. This region has many 
special advantages of climate to recommend 
it as peculiarly suited to cases of pulmonary 
consumption. For miles around, a beautiful, 
wild, healthy country of hill and dale meet 
the eye. This whole section of South Caro- 
lina is one vast forest of noble old pines. 

To reach Aiken from Charleston by rail, you 
will pass through horrible swampy, worthless 
land, suited for the great breeding-place for 
reptiles and insects of every variety and size. 
From the time you leave Charleston, the 
country rises gradually till you reach Aiken, 
six hundred feet above the level of the sea, 
and breathe altogether the most tonic and 
easily - breathed air of any locality in the 
South. The buoyancy of the air is at once 



7 2 Going South for the Winter. 

remarked. Aiken will, undoubtedly and de- 
servedly, be a great resort for scores of inva- 
lids from the North. 

The village of Aiken is decidedly the most 
central and easy of access in reach of the con- 
sumptive, having regular daily mail opportun- 
ities for getting horses and carriages, good 
water, good society, with no vicious exhala- 
tions to poison the air, a clear sky and magni- 
ficent scenery, making this region very desir- 
able as a winter residence. Aiken has four 
churches, a number of well-stocked country 
stores, pleasant private boarding-houses, post- 
office and fine railroad depot building. 

A number of physicians are here, some 
being old residents and reliable practitioners ; 
while other Eastern State physicians have, 
since the late war, located here for the pur- 
pose of receiving patients and treating them 
in their own dwellings. The old residents are 
highly educated, obliging and kind to stran- 
gers, treating northern people with civility 
In the interior, some of the inhabitants still 
consider a northern man their enemy, and 



Going South for the Winter. 73 

have no confidence or communication with 
him ; but all want quiet, and an opportunity to 
begin life anew, and let bygones be bygones. 

The writer rode from seven to ten miles 
daily about the neighborhood of Aiken, dur- 
ing a month in winter, for observation and to 
test the climate, and does not remember ever 
to have received an unkind word ; but, on the 
contrary, even when miles away, over hills 
covered with almost impenetrable grand old 
pine woods, found every stranger, horseman 
or hunter, communicative and agreeable." 

The soil of this region of South Carolina is, 
much of it, unsuited to agricultural pursuits, 
but on the ridges is fertile and well adapted 
to the culture of the grape — an inducement for 
consumptives to settle here. The best land 
here has been offered by the owners at a ridic- 
ulously low price. Several fine farms for vine- 
yard culture, lately owned by parties here, 
have been caught up by northern speculators, 
who purchased these valuable properties with 
fine buildings, often securing the whole at 
what it would cost to build the dwellings 



74 Going South for the Winter. 

alone. Much of the best property has been 
purchased within a few months. 

Up to the present time, nothing in the hotel 
line accommodation, really worthy of a spot 
where nature has lavished her treasures on, 
has been done. All around, the country is 
wild, broken and romantic. You look from 
your window on a chain of hills and ridges, 
with here and there deep ravines, water- 
courses and hollows, which make up the pe- 
culiar features of this healthful region, yet 
almost entirely deserted. 

There is one large hotel at this place, where 
guests can be made comfortable. The sleep- 
ing-apartments are roomy, unusually so — -each 
with a large fire-place for a pine-wood fire, 
furnishing a very cheering retreat on a rainy 
day. Every opportunity is here offered for 
enterprising parties to establish a " grand 
hotel." The private houses, always pleasant 
and home-like for an invalid, are full every, 
winter, while the hotel, and buildings erected 
by northern physicians, who receive consump- 
tives from the North, are crowded also. 



Going South for the Winter, 75 

The climate here undoubtedly offers more 
curative properties and advantages to the con- 
sumptive than any other locality in the South. 
Aiken is seldom visited by snow and severe 
weather — cold storms of sleet and snow so 
much dreaded by the invalid. The walks are 
always dry a few hours after a heavy rain, 
making exercise safe and profitable. The air 
is peculiarly dry and tonic. 

The enthusiasm on breathing this stimulat- 
ing atmosphere is quite enough to establish a 
reputation for the place. A constitution not 
naturally strong, is invigorated, and there is 
an elasticity and buoyancy of the air quite 
remarkable. 

Exercise on horseback, so attractive and 
healthful, can be enjoyed without the usual ex- 
treme fatigue, and the air is just suited to the 
promotion and enjoyment of regular exercise ; 
while the dry walks, covered with a flooring 
of pine leaves, scattered about in such profu- 
sion in the woody borders of the village, give 
an agreeable and pleasant variety and sensa- 
tion while breathing the odor of the pine ; 



7& Going South for the Winter. 

and those who can walk find the exercise not 
at all wearisome, bringing out the delightful 
glow of renewed health, and rousing the dor- 
mant energy of all the organs. Of course, 
prudence must be exercised in walking ; con- 
sumptive invalids should indulge moderately, 
and not go into " training " for a walkist. 

The thermometer does not often fall far be- 
low 32 ° during the winter. In December the 
thermometer has reached 85 ° as the highest 
and 70" the lowest. In January the highest 
temperature has been 75 ° and the lowest 40 °. 
During the subsequent winter the highest 
temperature in January was 58 ° and lowest 
48 °. Although there is nothing in this region 
to poison the atmosphere, and apparently 
much to encourage the invalid ; still consump- 
tive/^//^ die here as well as elsewhere', ejven 
the bracing dry air of this region will revive 
those who reach Aiken very much reduced. 
There are some objections to this climate that 
the consumptive should know of. 

Fabulous stories are told of sick people who 
arrived at Aiken, reduced to the last extremi- 






Going South for the Winter. 77 

ty, and whose subsequent appearance created 
such a surprise. The accuracy of all such re- 
ports, consumptives will be at liberty to doubt 
or believe. I would not have any hopeless 
invalid deceived by exaggerated stories, either 
by speculators, hotel men, or ignorant people. 
It is a very serious business, this going so far 
from home, and it very often takes all the 
means at hand to bear the expense ; while in 
some cases much benefit is received by winter- 
ing in the South, other cases derive little or 
no benefit. 

Neither would I have my readers guided by 
my statements, but only strive to familiarize 
the sick man with the locality likely to be 
beneficial ; after which the consumptive must 
decide which he may do, without such an ex- 
perience as the writer had in search of the sec- 
tion for phthisis patients to pass the winter 
in. 

The climate of the region of country about 
Aiken — generally reliable — is sometimes sur- 
prisingly variable, and many who are seriously 
ill have sometimes to keep in-doors, with a 
10 



7% Going South for the Winter. 

huge pine-wood fire during morning and even- 
ing, while at noon-day they can come out and 
enjoy exercise, riding and driving. For those 
not seriously ill, a slight puff of wind from off 
the hills will not make them uncomfortable. 
At times the changes of temperature are sud- 
den, sharp and serious, sending " all hands" 
flying to their quarters. 

There is a # scarcity of beef and milk; the 
cattle of the country are roaming at will, with 
no protector or provider, till wanted for 
slaughter, and never fed or housed, but forced 
to get a scanty subsistence from the brush, 
leaves, and a tuft of wild grass here and there 
in the forest and along the roads. Such prov- 
ender will not make good milk or beef. The 
only plan, if milk cannot be purchased, is to 
persuade some one to " put up" their cow and 
feed the animal, selling you the milk unskim- 
med ; or hire one of the creatures and furnish 
her with good fodder. A good goat can be 
had that will give about as much milk as many 
of the cows. The cows here are the most 
miserable specimens in the world ; very small 



Going South for the Winter. 79 

and only equalled in starved appearance by 
the swine of the country. 

A party who suffers from lung diseases, but 
having plenty of means to provide a good diet 
and luxuries for his comfort, can live at Aiken 
all winter with great satisfaction, if he chooses 
to pay well for extras. The village being only 
twelve miles from Augusta, Georgia, an inva- 
lid with means can purchase extras and neces- 
sary articles of convenience and diet, having 
all sent daily to him from Augusta. 

Parties of four or five, who wish to club to- 
gether and live apart from the hotel, can rent 
a house, furnishing their table for the winter 
months with daily supplies from Augusta. 
There is a medicinal spring here which is of 
no particular account to the consumptive, but 
which will be bottled up for New York before 
long, no doubt. 

In selecting a room at the hotel at Aiken, 
or other resort, choose one on the second floor, 
where the sun will shine directly through your 
window during the greater part of the day, 
and as large a room as possible, with an open 



8° Going South for the Winter. 

fire-place, and a free circulation of air. After 
a winter judiciously spent at Aiken or Augus- 
tine, with unremitting- attention to the instruc- 
tions of their physician, I can see no reason 
(provided nutritious, strong, rich, hearty food 
can be had) why consumptives should not re- 
turn home presenting signs of permanent im- 
provement. 



SOUTH OF FRANCE. 

No one, I imagine, who can have paid much 
attention to the treatment of pulmonary 
phthisis would advise a consumptive to leave 
the " Sunny South" of the United States for a 
winter residence on the shore of the Mediter- 
ranean. Dr. Henry Bennet (whose authority 
on such cases is the best in Europe) says that 
the warmth and sunshine which the consump- 
tive can enjoy during the winter months in 
the climate of the French Mediterranean, is 
equal almost to the warmth and brightness of 
the British summer. 



Going South for the Winter. 81 

This is gratifying to those consumptives 
whose home is in London or Paris, and we 
will not doubt of the beneficial effects of such 
a genial climate for those who are within a 
reasonable distance of such latitude, and who 
can reach the Mediterranean region without 
the risk of being st ~uck down with violent 
hemorrhage from over exertion and exposure 
on the way. If we admit that pulmonary 
phthisis is a disease of debility and organic 
exhaustion, what folly it is for the consump- 
tive of America to exhaust his little remaining 
strength in knocking about his berth on a 
twelve-days' sea voyage with prostrating sea- 
sickness and subsequent waste of strength, in 
the vain endeavor to reach Madeira or Men- 
tone. Even if after a wearisome sea voyage, 
the consumptive should arrive at Havre, it is 
not at all probable that the diet and lodging 
would be suited to his case ; while the dan- 
gerous excitement, constant, tiresome, nervous 
gazing at the changing scenes, and the Euro- 
pean manner of living in apartments, often four 
and five floors up from the street, make it im- 



82 Going South for the Winter. 

possible for any one subject to hemorrhages of 
the lungs to live with safety. 

The wintering places of the South of France, 
which have proved beneficial for pulmonary 
invalids, are many, but of no interest to the 
consumptives of America, who should not ex- 
haust the small allowance of vitality by the 
anxiety and effort to "keep up" on a Euro- 
pean tour. In the case of the consumptive 
who can have little hope of recovery, for the 
reason that he will not take the needful care 
of himself, the only place for such an one is at 
home, where he can receive fresh instructions 
from his physicians daily, as new complica- 
tions arise, and where he will not run the risk 
of a death-bed among strangers in a strange 
land. The pulmonary invalid should never 
think of leaving his native land to cross the 
ocean, either in the earlier or the advanced 
stage of the disease, unless one can be assured 
of unusual advantages, such as can only be 
provided by an extravagant expenditure of 
money. 



Going South for the Winter, 83 

DIET. 

We all understand that food introduced into 
the mouth is there crushed, mingled with sa- 
liva, and passed on into the stomach, where 
by action of the secretions, it becomes pulp, 
and is ready to make blood, support and nour- 
ish the body, while depositing fat in one part 
and flesh in another. 

There can hardly be a limitation in the quan- 
tity and quality of food positively necessary to 
supply material for the unceasing change and 
waste wearing out the consumptive patient. 
The nature and efficacy of food in these cases 
is of the greatest possible importance, and 
there must be no economy so-called practical 
in selecting a diet ; the richest, most nutritious 
and pleasing to the palate, must be had at 
whatever cost. There is no alternative, the con- 
sumptive must eat. Before eating food, the 
question the sufferer with pulmonary con- 
sumption should answer, is : " Will this food 
form fat ?" Eat only such food as will make 
you plump and rubicund ; and eat with care- 



$4 Going South for the Winter. 

ful consideration, for the after-labor of the di- 
gestive apparatus, giving the stomach no un- 
necessary work by eating innutritious food. 
Consumptive persons may have four or five 
meals a day — -breakfast, luncheon, dinner, tea 
and supper. 

The various articles of diet differ so mate- 
rially in the amount of nutritive matter, that 
it is, essential the consumptive should know of 
the diet best calculated to promote nutrition ; 
while the digestibility of the food must be 
considered a necessary part of its nutritive 
value. It would be well if the consumptive 
would be dieted by his physician, who has an 
accurate acquaintance with quantity, quality 
and efficacy of food beneficial for such patients. 
Diabetes, diarrhea, dyspepsia, dropsy and 
other complications, will indicate the variety, 
and modify or increase the allowance. In 
choosing a diet, the invalid must consult the 
immediate requirements of the body, as well 
as the circumstances of climate, peculiar em- 
ployment, harassing, mental or physical labor, 
blood-making power, exposure, active exer- 



Going South for the Winter. 85 

cise, perfect or imperfect mastication, sedent- 
ary habit, age, temperament, and particularly 
the condition of the digestive apparatus. The 
dietary must be fitted to the constitutional 
wants of each individual. 

In some consumptive people, digestion is 
slow ; in other cases, rapid. In some, a very 
little excitement or exertion before a meal is 
enough to banish one's appetite for consequent 
fretfulness and want of appetite during the 
day. A particular variety of diet is found 
insupportable by some consumptives, while 
exactly suited to the other. Veal (meat) acts 
almost as a poison when eaten by some, pro- 
ducing violent vomiting and diarrhea. The 
most easily digested meats cannot be tolerat- 
ed by one person, which, for another, is very 
proper. A selected diet will rapidly make 
blood for one consumptive, which, for another, 
will need artificial assistance. 

Persons who are suffering with pulmonary 

consumption, have always a predisposition to 

digestive derangements and bowel affections, 

in consequence of which great care must be 

11 



Going South for the Winter. 

exercised in selecting- a nutritious aliment, 
which, while soothing to the irritable mucous 
membrane, have sufficient strength in its com- 
position, besides being stimulating, palatable 
and supporting in its character. 

There is, in all cases of consumption, a com- 
plete breaking down of the constitution, and 
want of proper nutriment increases the diffi- 
culty. All diseases of a tuberculous and 
scrofulous character are never mitigated by 
the patient subjecting himself to a simple re- 
gime. All the evidence and knowledge we 
possess of the character of this disease (phthi- 
sis), point unmistakably to a want of suit- 
able diet, as one of the active causes of the 
disease. 

The erroneous notion that a vegetarian diet 
will support a man in health and strength is a 
terrible mistake. The wear of the mental, 
muscular and nervous functions, waste of 
tissue, and constant work of the viscera, and 
all the processes undergoing continual wear, 
even in a healthy man, require an abundant 
supply of nutriment to repair the loss ; and 



Going South for the Winter, 8 7 

surely the consumptive must have an active, 
restoring diet. 

The consumptive must bear in mind that a 
strong diet is worth everything in the treatment 
of his disease ; and the first in the list of art- 
icles of diet for the phthisis patient is cod liver 
oil, without which food the progress of the 
disease will be checked slowly. This indis- 
pensable food for the consumptive can always 
be had at home or abroad, and never fails to 
show its wonderful effects when properly and 
regularly used. 

The Egyptians instructed their kings, and 
prescribed by law, the quantity and quality 
of their food. 

Achilles was bred for a hero, and, it is said, 
they fed him on the marrow of lions. Galen 
lived to the age of one hundred and forty, 
and was never ill till his last moments. His 
diet consisted always of strong and hearty 
food ; he considered lettuce as having a seda- 
tive effect, and used it freely for the last meal 
of the day. Thomas Parr, a farmer, who 
lived much in the open air, was a strong 



88 Going South for the Winter. 

feeder, and married when he was one hun- 
dred and twenty years of age. 

We have numerous instances of men living 
one hundred and twenty, and over one hun- 
dred and twenty-eight, who were, from neces 
sity, strong livers ; and we all have heard of 
the Philadelphia shoemaker, who lived upon 
the most hearty food, and reached the age of 
one hundred and fourteen years. It is re- 
corded of an English fisherman, who, at one 
hundred 3^ears of age, could swim equal to 
the smartest boy, his diet being often oat- 
meal and butter-milk. He died after living 
one hundred and sixty-nine years. 

All of these hearty, long-lived people made 
eating an important business of the day, and 
were unlike our devotees of fashion, who 
exhibit so much fashionable affectation and 
mincing at meals as to endanger their health. 

Cases of pulmonary consumption are al- 
most entirely unknown among a class of 
South Americans who live on beef. Sir 
Francis Head says, in his " Notes," " That 
when he first crossed the Pampas — although 



Going South for the Winter. 8 9 

accustomed to riding horseback all his life — he 
could not at all ride with the natives, who 
lived on beef and water alone." " But," says 
Sir Francis, " after I had lived on beef and 
water for a month, I found myself in a condi- 
tion which I can only describe by saying, that 
I felt no exertion could kill me. For weeks," 
he says, " he would be upon his horse before 
sunrise, and ride until three hours after sunset, 
and really tired out twelve horses." This, he 
states, he could only have done while living 
on beef. 

The ruinous broth -diet -system is to be 
avoided by the consumptive, and only such 
food allowed as will contribute to the forma- 
tion of fat. 

Milk is of the utmost importance, and must 
not be used sparingly. Goat's milk is to be 
preferred to that drawn from the cow. Milk 
diet for the consumptive cannot be too highly 
appreciated. Cow's milk, when pure, should be 
of a yellowish-white color ; its specific grav- 
ity varies between 1.032 and 1.035. Mare's 
milk is white in color, thick, like goat's milk ; 



9° Going South for the Winter. 

contains a large amount of fat and sugar of 
milk. Asses' milk is perfectly white, and much 
sweeter than cow's milk, and rich in sugar of 
milk. Milk is classed among the most, easily 
digested articles of food, two hours being the 
time required for its digestion. Woman's milk 
is more quickly digested than any known. 
Goat's milk will not make butter or take on 
cream. Sheep's milk will make butter, which 
cannot be used. Cow's milk is the most easily 
procured and generally used ; but none but 
that drawn front young, healthy animals should 
be used. Goat's milk, used medicinally, may 
be diluted at the first using, to divest it of its 
peculiar taste, till the stomach becomes ac- 
customed to it. The importance of some dis- 
cipline and good order in the management of 
the dining-room is worth reasonable attention ; 
and, for the consumptive, it is absolutely ne- 
cessary to leave all melancholy feelings and 
reflections " outside " at meal-time. Eat slow, 
talk slow, and never bring your cares, or allow 
others to offer their troubles for discussion, at 
the table in the dining-room. Never permit 



Going South for the Winter. 9 1 

any but cheerful conversation. Select for 
associates the most easy, natural and perfect 
characters, who will enliven and warm you 
through-and-through by their boisterous hilar- 
ity, rollicking fun and round-ringing laughter. 
Such companions, full of sympathy, kind in 
heart and pure in life, will drive all anxiety 
and dread of death from pulmonary consump- 
tion from your mind. 

" A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a 
broken spirit drieth the bones." — Proverbs xvii. 22. 

EXEKCISE. 

It is the most preposterous nonsense to sup- 
pose, that after having forced upon yourself 
evident physical degeneracy by a merciless 
application to business or excessive mental 
activity, with the usual starvation diet — 
taxing body and mind to such a degree as 
actually to produce the most disastrous re- 
sults — to suppose, we say, that your enfeebl- 
ed stomach, loss of appetite, poverty of blood, 
failing sight, labored action of the heart, slug- 



9 2 Going South for the Winter. 

gish circulation — really having transgressed 
all the laws of health, bereft of nerve and 
vigor, that you can, by a few days' bodily 
exercise, overcome your depressed condition, 
arrest the destruction of tissue, and regain 
health and strength ! 

For those consumptives who have such ex- 
travagant notions regarding the value of exer- 
cise, we can refer them to the decrees of the 
great lawgiver Lycurgus, in his ordinances 
for the physical training of his people. Ly- 
curgus decreed that all the virgins should 
exercise themselves in running, wrestling, 
jumping and quoits, and thus fortified by this 
exercise, their bodies might be strong and 
vigorous, and their children the same ; and, 
in order to extinguish the delicacy of the sex, 
Lycurgus ordered them, on certain festivals, 
to appear nude and dance, going through run- 
ning and wrestling exercises ; and the young 
men were ordered to go nearly naked on 
these festive occasions and join in the dance. 
All this was witnessed by the king and senate. 
The young men were praised by the multi- 



Going South for the Winter. 93 

tude for their bravery, and the virgins cele- 
brated for their great strength, while- every- 
thing was conducted with modesty and with- 
out anything disgraceful in it. The young 
maidens, we are told, became very strong and 
brave women, which is seen by the words of 
the wife of Leonidas, when another woman 
from a far country said to her, " You of Lace- 
dasmon are the only women in the world that 
rule the men ;" she answered, " We are the 
only women that bring forth men." 

To encourage this sort of exercise, and 
these public wrestlings and dances, in which 
we are asked to believe there was always 
good order and decorum observed, a punish- 
ment was put upon all those who would in- 
sist on being unmarried and wished to con- 
tinue single ; for by Lycurgus's law the time of 
marriage was fixed. The would-be bachelors 
were commanded, on these festive occasions, 
to march naked round the market-place, and, 
for their disobedience of the law, were not 
permitted to join in the exercises. Now, 
here in the decrees of one of the most re- 
12 



94 Going South for the Winter, 

markable men who ever lived, we see to 
what extremes men will go in their enthu- 1 
siasm. It is said history repeats itself; we 
should hope " not so " of Lycurgus's history. 
Out-of-door exercise, if had in moderation, is 
conducive to an improved condition of the 
consumptive invalid, and may be recommend- 
ed as a necessary part of the treatment of 
phthisis ; but we desire to impress earnestly 
upon the consumptive, the fact that exercise 
carried beyond reason, is the immediate cause 
of hemorrhage, and attended with the greatest 
danger. It is for the consumptive to judge 
of the needful exercise by prudent experi- 
ment. 

The moment one feels tired, stop. You can- 
not, after the least sign of weariness, continue 
to exercise safely ; then you will be obtaining 
your experimental knowledge at too great 
hazard ; and you must respect the warning 
of nature, and try your strength no further, 
unless you are prepared to bring upon your- 
self additional trouble. 

Regularity of exercise, when the weather 



Going South for the Winter. 95 

permits, with the express purpose, and a gen- 
eral bearing upon the object in view, cer- 
tainly is beneficial, increasing the expansion 
of the lungs. The breathing becomes more 
deep and full, and the fresh air, a constant 
stimulant, is respired with pure oxygen, giv- 
ing renewed energy and power to the vital 
organs. 

In active or passive exercise, walking or 
riding in the open air, you escape from the 
heated, foul air which you constantly breathe 
in-doors, and which is unfit for respiration. 
Exercise, while inhaling confined air, will be 
of little service to the consumptive, as there 
can be, in such atmosphere, no healthy action 
of the lungs, while the increasing perspiration, 
exhalations from the body and particles of 
fine dust from the floor and carpeting of the 
room, always floating about, added to the 
noxious gases of the close apartment, only 
produce an entire loss of energy and appetite. 
The necessity for regular exercise, passive or 
active, being admitted, it then becomes a 
question for the consumptive, where and 



9^ Going South for the Winter. 

when exercise can be had with the most 
profit ? 

Where, from the elevation of the surround- 
ing country the air is pure, dry and easily 
breathed, is evidently most desirable. Hav- 
ing a choice, the consumptive would, un- 
doubtedly, select for active exercise the air 
of a mountainous region ; but, unfortunately 
for the sufferer, such a salubrious locality can- 
not be had at pleasure, with the means at 
command of many who need to breathe and 
exercise in such an atmosphere. Then the 
question arises, can any of the schemes pro- 
posed by the gymnasium afford the desired 
exercise for the consumptive who must re- 
main in a crowded city ? All gymnasium ex- 
ercises in necessarily poorly-ventilated rooms, 
are subject to difficulties, which interfere 
much with the natural functions. 

We will not doubt that exercise in the gym- 
nasium, for those who prefer such violent ex- 
ercise — jumping and lifting and the dumb- 
bells — is suited ; still, for anyone, there can be 
no particular advantage in developing one 



Going South for the Winter. 97 

class of muscles by great muscular exertion 
for which the whole system must suffer ; and 
the hour selected for gymnastic exercise is one, 
of all others, the least to be desired. 

After a busy day in the office or on the 
street — and often the nervous energy and 
vitality is almost expended — it seems a poor 
time to exert oneself in jumping and dragging 
exercise, in the vitiated air of fifty gas burners, 
while stealing from Nature the hours demand- 
ed for relaxation and physical rest. The con- 
sumptive must select the variety of exercise 
in which the movements are best calculated 
to expand the chest. For those invalids with 
phthisis, who go to Florida, rowing exercise 
(on Matanzas sound or St. John river) is the 
best possible form. The exercises which bring 
into play the muscles of the upper extremities 
are the most proper for the consumptive. 
The arms must be actively employed as well 
as the legs, not in lifting, but backward and 
forward movements, such as pulling a boat, 
thereby expanding the chest. 



9 8 Going South for the Winter. 

STIMULANTS. 

Some over-zealous, but good honest men 
have in their surpassing goodness opened a 
crusade upon the physicians who will use as 
a medicine any alcoholic stimulant. If it were 
not such a serious matter, it would be very 
amusing to hear these constitutionally robust 
men. They know nothing of the concealed 
cares, troubles, anxiety, worry and vexation 
of the weakly, almost prostrate, women who 
are mentally and physically tired out with the 
every-day annoyances and hubbub of the 
" servants of the period," whose ignorance is 
enough to give any housekeeper the hysterics, 
and despair of all success in domestic manage- 
ment ; and shall these praiseworthy men, who 
are never ill, (and who have their convenient 
club-house, quiet rare-bit, mug of ale and 
sweet forgetfulness,) expect the physician to 
look on unmoved without using every means 
in his power to avert the danger from contin- 
ued prostration threatening his consumptive 
patient. 



Going South for the Winter, 99 

Every right minded man in the profession 
is anxious, to see the temperance cause ad- 
vance ; and in their capacity do full as much 
for the cause as those, who are so ready 
to censure the physician. No regular prac- 
titioner, who intelligently understands the 
cause and cure of consumption, will be willing 
to deny his patient with chronic lung disease 
either good Burton ale, champagne or brandy, 
with his cod-liver oil. 

Do the robust, hearty men, who know noth- 
ing of the pain and suffering of the pulmonary 
invalid, expect the physician to look on with- 
out the most energetic effort to stay the dis- 
ease which threatens the life of the consump- 
tive patient ? And will they tell us that in 
cases of extreme suffering and exhaustion, we 
shall not make cautious use of stimulants, 
which in moderation the patient undoubtedly 
requires ? 

This is " all bosh," and the most dangerous 
folly, for which we can have no patience to 
discuss with the temperance men, who injure 
the cause by their intemperate struggle to 



d 

* 



ioo Going South for the Winter. 

compel every one to accord with their designs. 
In Captain Bligh's account of the sufferings 
of himself and companions, in consequence of 
the mutiny of the crew of his ship, he remarks, 
" the little rum we had was of great service, 
when our nights were particularly distressing." 

Sir John Ross says, in his Arctic Expedition, 
that when experimenting upon the men of two 
boats' crews, rowing in a heavy sea, the water- 
drinkers would outdo the men who had an al- 
lowance of grog ; so that the physician must 
take the responsibility, without regard to any 
outside influences ; he alone is responsible for 
the medical treatment of his patient. The most 
reviving and active stimulant within the reach 
of all consumptives is music. Not without 
reason did Lord Holland treat his horses to a 
regular weekly concert in the stable, on the 
plea that music cheered their hearts and mod- 
ified their temper. 

The influence of sun-light on our pulmonary 
invalid is really most surprising, and is a pow- 
erful stimulant, that should be sought for by 
all consumptives. 



Going South for the Winter, I01 



SEA-BATHING. 

The writer has had an experience of many 
years in sea-water bathing on the coast, and 
does not hesitate to express a firm belief in the 
healing properties of sea-water, particularly 
for nervous, over-worked females, with cold 
extremities, (who will obtain the most striking 
and remarkable results from judicious bathing 
in the ocean). The value of sea-bathing in the 
treatment of phthisis is not often over-estima- 
ted. Sea-water is supposed to contain in its 
composition a minute quantity of sulphates of 
soda and lime, with bromine and iodine. To 
be most effectual, sea-water baths should be 
taken at some point on the coast, and out-of- 
doors. The action of the air upon the bather 
having considerable influence for good. The 
time selected should be at noon-day, before 
eating. After coming out, have a milk-punch 
or glass of wine and an hour for rest before 
eating. 

The consumptive may remain in the water 

13 



102 Going South for the Winter. 

five minutes at first, increasing the time to ten 
minutes. There must be no fighting the wind 
and waves, but gentle dipping under water 
only. The water should be pleasantly warm 
before entering. When " going in," walk from 
the beach rapidly till you are covered to the 
arm-pit, and then dive under. There is dan- 
ger in a dash or hurried plunge into the surf, 
on account of the severe shock which has 
sometimes proved very serious for the con- 
sumptive. The bather must be governed 
much by his own feelings, unless directly un- 
der the care of a physician. One can judge of 
the good or ill effects of sea-water bathing by 
the sensation after coming out. If after reach- 
ing the bathing-house the skin has a red and 
warm look, and there be a feeling of renewed 
vigor and a general stimulated sensation, that 
will be positive evidence that the bath has 
produced good effects. If, on the contrary, 
there is a slight cough and chilly feeling, a 
want of glow, and the skin have a cold, rough 
appearance, the bath should not be repeated, 
unless by the advice of the physician. 



Going South for the Winter. 103 

CONCLUSION. 

One of the great clangers the consumptive 
has to guard against, is the flattering character 
of the disease. Very many pulmonary pa- 
tients lose all they may have gained by judi- 
cious treatment, by their over-confidence and 
consequent risk and exposure during bad wea- 
ther. Those consumptives who should re- 
main at home and in bed, are too often per- 
suaded by the flattering but deceitful signs of 
improvement, to believe that exposure and 
breathing a cold and raw atmosphere will not 
be so serious as the physician insists that it 
will prove. 

Consumptive invalids who have recovered 
rapidly, often forget that they must continue 
to fight the disease. Permanent relief can 
only be secured by constant watchfulness, 
protection from atmospheric vicissitudes, and 
everything that may increase the lowered vi- 
tality. 

. While I would earnestly recommend for 
persons suffering from pulmonary phthisis. 



io4 Going South for the Winter. 

both the grape and the milk cure (particularly 
the milk treatment), yet these must not be re- 
lied on for replacing the cod liver oil. It is to 
be remembered that the disease wearing out 
the consumptive is a constitutional as well as 
local disorder, and everything that can im- 
prove and maintain the highest condition of 
bodily vigor, is to be eagerly sought for ; 
while at the same time guarding against all 
reducing medicines and starvation diet. From 
the very commencement of the disease, the 
invalid must consider himself in the greatest 
danger, and early devote his time and money 
to re-establishing his health. 

Immediate active and energetic treatment will 
often prevent further advance of the disease. 
The influence of hygienic and climatic 
treatment in retarding the progress of the 
disease, is admitted by all who have studied 
the character of phthisis. 

. The wearisome cough must be quieted, and 
hemorrhages checked in the beginning. The 
continuous, slow fever consuming the con- 
sumptive must be watched, and the rapid loss 



Going South for the Winter, 105 

of strength, appetite, and general " wasting 
away," as well as troublesome diarrhea, must 
be provided for ; stimulants should be given, 
and, where indicated, brandy and ammonia. 
Consumptives must be made to take food. 
Too great quantities, and at irregular inter- 
vals, may derange the functions of the stom- 
ach ; but care can be exercised. At all events, 
the invalid consumptive must be made to eat. 

The manner in which the nurse administers 
nourishment to the invalid will often banish 
his appetite. A pleasant, well-meaning and 
unaffected nurse is a valuable aid in the treat- 
ment of consumptives. 

The nurse should be cautioned not to ap- 
proach a patient as if expecting him to de- 
vour everything with a relish. A teaspoon- 
ful of this, a forkful of the other, a little jelly 
and a bit of toast at will, is far better than 
the obtrusive manner of a nurse who will in- 
sist on selecting the cuts herself. All the 
little morsels that are a rarity and a surprise 
to the invalid, will often excite an appetite 
which has entirely fled from the call of the 



IQ 6 Going South for the Winter. 

sufferer. Wear always flannel next the skin, 
winter and summer. Keep the pores of the 
skin open by frequent washings, which will 
leave the skin free to perform its functions. 

After much special study and careful obser- 
vation of the peculiar character of this dread- 
ed disease, and after having repeatedly seen 
the marvellous results of good treatment, the 
writer has become a believer in the curability 
of pulmonary phthisis, or rather that with the 
influence of climate, judicious advice, suffi- 
cient rest and repose, agreeable stimulants — 
all such as affect through sight, hearing, smell 
and taste, as well as an allowance of strong 
beer, plentiful use of nourishing soups, oat- 
meal, beef, mutton, cod liver oil, cream, eggs, 
with entertaining society, music, and living, 
if possible, much in the open air, with the 
positive influence of sunlight and proper ad- 
ministration of medicines — the disease ma}^ 
be entirely controlled and its further prog- 
ress permanently checked. Much, very much, 
can be done at home to control the disease 
without " going South for the winter." 



